worthless studios
Worthless Studios is a New York City 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2017 that supports emerging artists through artist residencies, public art installations, and community photography programs, including a mobile Airstream darkroom and the FREE FILM and 1-800 Happy Birthday initiatives.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersWest New York, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What worthless studios does
Worthless Studios is a New York City-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization founded in 2017 that supports emerging artists and community-based cultural programming through residencies, public art projects, exhibitions, and education. Its core programmatic portfolio is anchored by two residency models: the Photographer in Residence (PIR) program, which uses a 1973 Airstream trailer converted into a fully operational mobile darkroom (equipped with Beseler 23II and Omega type D enlargers, multi-format film carriers, and printing equipment) to provide exclusive darkroom access plus a $1,500 artist stipend; and the WARP (WORTHLESS Artist Residency Program), delivered in partnership with UAP Company and offering up to $45,000 in fabrication budget plus a $5,000 artist stipend and access to foundry, metalworking, and digital fabrication facilities at UAP's upstate New York facility. Community-scale analog photography programs (FREE FILM : NYC across six neighborhoods, FREE FILM : USA covering 18 cities, FREE FILM : CANAL, FREE FILM : JUNE 2020) distribute free 35mm film to local photographers, travel the Airstream darkroom on-site, and compile outputs into hardcover photography books; the 1-800 Happy Birthday exhibition series honors Black and Brown lives lost to police violence through twelve upcycled payphone installations and community activations. Programs are delivered free to artists and communities, with the organization funded primarily by tax-deductible donations, foundation grants (Mellon, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Rockefeller Brothers Fund, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council), and government arts funders (NEA, NYS Council on the Arts, NYC Cultural Affairs), supplemented by merchandise sales (apparel, photography books, accessories) through its online shop. Distribution and reach are concentrated in New York City across the five boroughs, with additional presence in Oakland, San Francisco, and California through partner organizations (City of Oakland, FOR-SITE, Black Joy Parade).
worthless studios firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- worthless studios
- Legal name
- Worthless Studios, Inc.
- Website
- https://worthlessstudios.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Worthless Studios is a New York City 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2017 that supports emerging artists through artist residencies, public art installations, and community photography programs, including a mobile Airstream darkroom and the FREE FILM and 1-800 Happy Birthday initiatives.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
worthless studios industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Arts Residency Programs
- NAICS
- Photofinishing (81292)
- SIC
- Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Creator Content Production & Co-Creation Studios (BPAFAHAD)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Studio Campus / Production Facility Operators (MPADAIAC)
Keywords
Where worthless studios is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- West New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
worthless studios business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: Tax-deductible donations to support the nonprofit mission. The organization is a 501(c)(3) with EIN 83-4240559. Donations fund artist residencies, public art projects, and educational programming.
- Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including apparel (hoodies, t-shirts, long-sleeves), photography books, tote bags, and notepads through the online shop.
- Foundation and Government Grants: Funding from Mellon Foundation, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, NYS Council on the Arts, National Endowment for the Arts, NYC Cultural Affairs, and Rockefeller Brothers Fund.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | One-time | Photographer in Residence Program |
| Other | One-time | WARP (WORTHLESS Artist Residency Program) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Merchandise |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Tax-Exempt Donations |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
worthless studios product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Worthless Studios operates artist residency programs (WARP sculpture residency and Photographer in Residence), community photography initiatives (FREE FILM), and public art installations (1-800 Happy Birthday). The organization distributes free film to community photographers, provides fabrication and darkroom resources to emerging artists, and produces exhibitions and photography publications. Programs are delivered through a mobile Airstream darkroom and partner venues across NYC and beyond.
Product overview
WORTHLESSSTUDIOS is a New York 501(c)(3) arts non-profit offering artist residency programs and community photography initiatives. The portfolio consists of WARP (large-scale sculpture residency with fabrication support at UAP foundry) and the Photographer in Residence program (mobile Airstream darkroom). Their FREE FILM programs distribute free film to communities and produce photography books. The 1-800 Happy Birthday exhibition series honors victims of police violence through interactive installations. Additional offerings include youth workshops, public art installations, and merchandise including apparel and photography publications.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Photographer in Residence (PIR): 1-month photography residency program using an Airstream trailer converted into a darkroom
- WARP (WORTHLESS Artist Residency Program)
- 1-800 Happy Birthday
- FREE FILM
- The Plywood Protection Project
Products and services
- WARP (WORTHLESS Artist Residency Program) Large-scale sculpture residency providing a $45,000 fabrication budget, $5,000 artist stipend, 5-7 weeks of UAP foundry access, private studio space, project management support, and housing/transportation stipends for emerging sculptors creating ambitious artwork.
- Photographer in Residence (PIR) One-month photography residency in a mobile Airstream darkroom providing exclusive darkroom access, $1,500 artist stipend, darkroom chemistry, film, photo paper, two workshops on scanning and digital printing, and optional public program hosting for selected photographers.
- FREE FILM : NYC Community analog photography program distributing free 35mm film to neighborhood photographers across NYC boroughs with prompt-based submissions. The mobile Airstream darkroom travels to each neighborhood and submitted images are compiled into hardcover photography books.
- 1-800 Happy Birthday Multi-format exhibition and public art installation series honoring Black and Brown lives killed by police violence through birthday celebrations, voicemail installations, and community engagement. Features interactive payphone installations at venues including McCarren Park, Latham Square, Black Joy Parade, and The Guardhouse.
- Youth Analog Photography Workshops Workshop series teaching analog photography, darkroom printing, and collaborative storytelling to middle and high school students in underserved NYC communities, delivered in partnership with Lower East Side Girls Club, SOCRATEENS, and other youth organizations.
- Branded Merchandise and Photography Books Direct-to-consumer merchandise including FREE FILM photography books ($45 each or $120 for 3-book bundle), apparel (hoodies, t-shirts, long-sleeves from $35-$120), tote bags, and notepads sold through the organization's online storefront.
Quantifiable outcome
- 500+ photographers served, 18,000+ images created in FREE FILM : NYC alone
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use worthless studios
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
worthless studios technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
worthless studios partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- UAP Company (Urban Art Projects)corePartnership with UAP Company for the WARP (WORTHLESS Artist Residency Program). UAP provides state-of-the-art fabrication facilities including foundry, metalworking, and digital fabrication capabilities at their upstate New York location. The partnership enables sculptors to create large-scale works with professional fabrication support.
- Campaign ZerocoreSocial justice nonprofit partner for the 1-800 Happy Birthday project, which honors Black and Brown lives lost to police violence. Campaign Zero works to end police violence through policy advocacy and community organizing.
- Even/OddcoreCreative studio co-producer of the 1-800 Happy Birthday project. Even/Odd, led by artist Mohammad Gorjestani, created the original voicemail project concept.
- Lower East Side Girls ClubcoreCommunity partner for FREE FILM : NYC Lower East Side programming and youth photography workshops. WORTHLESS partners with LESGC for artist-in-residence programs and after-school programming.
- Alice Austen HousecoreMuseum partner hosting Photographer in Residence and open studio events. Partnership for triennial exhibitions and residency programming.
- Socrates Sculpture ParkcorePartner for SOCRATEENS x WORTHLESSSTUDIOS youth photography education program, hosting workshops and exhibitions.
- Pioneer WorkscoreBrooklyn cultural center partner for FREE FILM : NYC Red Hook neighborhood programming.
- Bronx Documentary CentercoreCommunity partner for FREE FILM : NYC South Bronx neighborhood photography programming.
- Brotherhood Sister SolcoreHarlem-based youth organization partner for FREE FILM : NYC Harlem neighborhood programming.
- Contact PhotocorePhotography organization partner for FREE FILM : NYC East Williamsburg neighborhood programming.
- Green-Wood CemeterycoreHistoric cemetery partner for FREE FILM : NYC Sunset Park neighborhood photography programming.
- Black Panther Party MuseumcoreMuseum venue hosting Happy Heavenly Birthday Oscar exhibition honoring Oscar Grant III.
- FOR-SITEcoreFort Mason Center arts organization hosting 1-800 Happy Birthday installation at The Guardhouse in San Francisco.
- Black Joy ParadecoreLargest free celebration of Black culture in California. 1-800 Happy Birthday featured in Healing Village with payphone installation.
- City of OaklandcoreMunicipal partner for 1-800 Happy Birthday public art installation at Latham Square, in partnership with Oakland's Cultural Affairs Division.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
worthless studios competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- Lower Manhattan Cultural Council: NYC arts council that funds and incubates artists and arts organizations, including residencies and public programs. Comparable as an ecosystem participant: both funder and operator of residency-style programs, and an active funder of Worthless Studios.
Direct peers
- Skowhegan School of Painting & Sculpture: Maine-based artist residency program supporting emerging and established artists across disciplines with full stipends and studio access. Comparable as a high-support, fully-funded emerging artist residency model, particularly relevant to Worthless Studios' WARP program.
- Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts: Omaha-based nonprofit artist residency and exhibition program with stipends, studio space, and fabrication support. Comparable as a residency-and-exhibition nonprofit with sizable artist support packages similar to WARP.
- Pioneer Works: Brooklyn-based nonprofit cultural center that runs artist residencies, public programming, and community events in Red Hook. Directly comparable as a NYC nonprofit combining residencies, community engagement, and experimental programming; Worthless Studios lists Pioneer Works as a FREE FILM : NYC partner.
- Socrates Sculpture Park: Queens-based outdoor sculpture park and public art space with residency and youth education programming. Comparable as a NYC nonprofit blending public art, sculpture fabrication, and youth programming; partner with Worthless Studios on the SOCRATEENS x WORTHLESSSTUDIOS youth photography program.
- Headlands Center for the Arts: Marin County, CA nonprofit artist residency in former military buildings with studio, fellowship, and public programming. Comparable as a residency-focused arts nonprofit with strong public-facing programming, particularly relevant to Worthless Studios' expanding California footprint.
- Bronx Documentary Center: Bronx-based nonprofit gallery and education center focused on documentary photography and community programming. Comparable as a NYC community-engaged photography nonprofit; partner with Worthless Studios on FREE FILM : NYC South Bronx programming.
- Alice Austen House: Staten Island museum and historic house that hosts photography residencies and community programs. Directly comparable as a nonprofit photography residency venue; Worthless Studios uses Alice Austen House as a PIR residency host site.
Broad incumbents
- International Center of Photography: NYC-based nonprofit institution dedicated to photography through exhibitions, education, and community programs. Comparable as a photography-focused nonprofit combining residencies, education, and exhibitions, though ICP is significantly larger and more established.
Emerging players
- The Laundromat Project: NYC nonprofit that brings arts programming into laundromats and community spaces in historically underinvested neighborhoods. Comparable as a community-engaged arts nonprofit focused on equitable access to creative programming, sharing Worthless Studios' neighborhood-activation model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
worthless studios social profiles
Digital presenceworthless studios financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
worthless studios leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
worthless studios funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
worthless studios M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about worthless studios
What does worthless studios do?
Worthless Studios operates artist residency programs (WARP sculpture residency and Photographer in Residence), community photography initiatives (FREE FILM), and public art installations (1-800 Happy Birthday). The organization distributes free film to community photographers, provides fabrication and darkroom resources to emerging artists, and produces exhibitions and photography publications. Programs are delivered through a mobile Airstream darkroom and partner venues across NYC and beyond.
Is worthless studios a public or private company?
worthless studios is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was worthless studios founded?
worthless studios was founded in 2017. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is worthless studios based?
worthless studios is headquartered in West New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does worthless studios make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations and Charitable Contributions are the primary driver. The others are merchandise Sales and foundation and Government Grants.
Who are worthless studios's main competitors?
Lower Manhattan Cultural Council is listed as an others. Direct peers are Skowhegan School of Painting & Sculpture, Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, Pioneer Works, Socrates Sculpture Park, Headlands Center for the Arts, Bronx Documentary Center and Alice Austen House. International Center of Photography is listed as a broad incumbent. The Laundromat Project is listed as an emerging player.
Does worthless studios have an API?
No public API is recorded for worthless studios.
What industry is worthless studios in?
worthless studios's product category is Arts Residency Programs. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAFAHAD, Creator Content Production & Co-Creation Studios, with a secondary code of MPADAIAC, Studio Campus / Production Facility Operators. Its NAICS code is 81292 and its SIC code is 7330.